Semester of Graduation

Spring 2022

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Geology and Geophysics

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

The Upper Floridan Aquifer is the primary source of freshwater for the majority of the southeastern United States. Increased stress on the Upper Floridan Aquifer due to irrigation has resulted in questions about the sustainability of the aquifer. Baker County, Georgia, has a high density of geographically isolated wetlands and of center pivot irrigation wells that are used to meet the demand for irrigation water. These wetlands respond to changes in precipitation and evapotranspiration, in the water level in surface streams, and in the water level of the Upper Floridan Aquifer. Understanding how the response of the wetlands has changed over time will increase our understanding of the hydrologic connectivity of the wetlands to the Upper Floridan Aquifer. Using water levels recorded in monitoring wells in and near Pond 51 (P51), a wetland within the Jones Center at Ichauway, water level data from a nearby surface stream and from the upper Floridan Aquifer, and local precipitation data, the hydrologic connectivity P51 was investigated. Similarities between changes in water level in nearby stream, the wetland, and the upper Floridan aquifer suggest that these water bodies are connected across the hydrological landscape. In addition, the changes in the water level in the wetland exhibited the highest correlation with changes in the water level in the aquifer.

Committee Chair

Wicks, Carol M

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.5541

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